Life of a Practicing Yoga Teacher

I came to support the teacher trainees, but they weren’t teaching today. I didn’t know that till the end of class. I kept thinking, she seems very comfortable up there with such a large class of people at different levels.

It’s kind of fun to see complete novices come into the studio. Today I helped with props and chatted. I very much feel like an ambassador for my studio. I’ve been going there so long, I know a lot about the place. That’s why I hope I can get a class there and stick with the familiar. Keeps my stress levels down!

I’m going to be sitting in and observing classes later this week. So I put on my yoga clothes, but I sit on a bolster in the corner and watch people and take notes and probably wish I was on my mat instead! But it is a wonderful opportunity for me to experience class in a very different way.

I do notice some things while I’m taking class. Part of our teacher training program requires that we make notes during the week about what we noticed in classes we attended. Sometimes it’s hard to remember when I get home what was so interesting or sometimes I just totally forget.

So this will be another wonderful opportunity to learn and grown as a yogi and a future teacher.

I love me a Hatha class. I feel stronger and more disciplined when I’m finished, especially when Beth teachers. She guides us with such purpose and intent that we can’t help but feel succesful. She makes me want to work harder and I do. She expects it. But it is still within the yoga framework of do what feels good, not what hurts.

My body has been tired, but I want to work back up to Beth’s Hatha II class. I can do it, I know I can.

I attended a class today instructed by a teacher who is in a yoga teacher training program. It was her first class on her own, but her instructor was in the back for support.

I immediately realized how hard it is to teach a class!

We are so used to our experienced teachers who can deftly move us from one pose to another. But us inexperienced teachers must be very careful with our language to make sure our students know what to do. They can’t always see us, so they need to be able to clearly hear what the next step is.

I’m going to need a lot of practice and repetition. I’m going to start practicing on my cat. I won’t subject humans to my instruction until I am very smooth and clear. My poor cat!

Where I practice, there are very few men attending. Very unusual to have two in one class. I think once or twice I’ve seen three in a class. But usually it’s the one solo guy. Sometimes he’s there because his wife brought him, but not always. I tend to think it would be a great way to meet women. Not a lot of competition and you definitely can check out all your options, for a whole hour.

My studio is not a meat market by any means. Our average age in attendance is probably mid-40’s, maybe a little higher. And I’m guessing mostly married already. The owner has made one successful match that I know of. And it has been very successful! Maybe I should ask her to be on the lookout for me!!

On the other hand, maybe the guys come in for what us women do, great exercise for the mind and body. And just maybe I’m the only one whose thinking about getting lucky in the studio! Maybe everyone else is focused and meditating on world peace…